Capt. Mike's offshore Fourchon report

[Captain Mike Ellis]

I have been slacking on my reports lately. But now that the weather has put me on the dock for the next few days. I have no excuse not to put a report up. I have put the Lump behind me and looking forward to not cutting up poagies and bonitos all day long. Our summertime pattern is starting to settle in with the weed lines already starting to form. There have even been a few blue marlin caught recently and the chicken dolphin are showing up which I guess is why the blues are also. On my last Lump trip of the year I had LeeRay and some of his buddies from Patroness Steel out for a tuna hunt. The anticipation was high since the day before I hand fed six yellows in the 150lb range right at the transom, only to lose them due to having (you guessed it) SIX BANANAS I found out they brought on board. I needed revenge and LeeRay and his crew needed tuna, so off the lump we go. I went through 150 pounds of chum along with two dozen bonitos. With only three b-liners and two AJ’s to show for it. I rigged a bottom rod up to try and fill the box with more b-liners but the big hammerheads ate every single bait sent to the bottom. That is except for the one that a nice 30-40 pound Warsaw beat them to. The high point of the day was when we had a single flying fish swim up to the boat. After playing hide and seek between three engines and a trim tab, I succeeded in dip netting him. I put him back out of a TI-16 the poor flying fish didn’t live for 20 seconds before a nice blackfin ate him. This was the only tuna I put on the boat that day.
The next day the story was different with a forecast of 0-2’ seas there was only one option and that is head south, way south. I discussed my game plan with Terry Helmkamp David Boyd, Kenny Cullen and Robbie Turpin. I gave the options at hand. Unanimously tuna was the decision that suited me just fine. We made our bait easily and headed due south for an 86 mile one way run. Upon arrival at the rig we can see yellows busting bait. As I was setting out the first bait it was taken from my hand.

At that point I knew it was on and going to be a good day.

We put a little extra luck on our side by releasing a small but barely legal yellow taken on a popper. This fish was destined for an offshore sushi buffet. But by letting it go we were rewarded with six tuna in the 50-90lb range. At one point, once the bite slowed David and Kenny both tried to buy a fish by throwing a credit card each into the water. I guess Kenny’s card was declined because David caught another yellow. Kenny wasn’t to be denied for long and had the last fish of the day on a popper. The only other interesting fish story was an 80-90lb fish that we only got because the stars and moon aligned up just perfect for us. Robbie had the fish on and was getting pretty worn down by the end of the fight.

The tuna was doing it’s typical circling and going under the boat. On one circle the line hit the lower unit and hung up for a second so I unclipped Robbie and told him he had to catch the fish mano-a-mano.

Upon gaffing the fish the line had a 20” section that was badly frayed and shaved super thin. It was so fragile I snapped it with just about no pressure at all. It sure felt good to be offshore again in blue water and fishing in shorts and t-shirt. COME ON SUMMERTIME.

Capt. Mike
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[FinalPoint]

Nice report! 86 miles :shock: :shock: That is one hell of a run, good thing it payed off.

[quack quack]

Nice fish Mike.That long run makes for a long day.I like the fuel hose in the pic filling up the boat for the next trip Just wondering do you do any overnight trips?I think if you could that would be the ticket for even better fishing for you.That early and late bite should be great.You could chunk all night and get some nice fish all night.I think you need two people with capt lic to do an overnighter?Do not know if you have already done this just curious?

[Captain Mike Ellis]

90% of my trips in the summer are overnighters. I have my clients throw poppers at breaking fish. I only chunk if the bite is slow. The only time you need two licensed captains is if the trip is more than 24 hours. Give me a call if you think you are up for a tuna slugfest on spinning gear.
Capt. Mike

[quack quack]

Sounds great I used to LL out of Venice.Those big longfin yellows are a blast.A trip there is not in the cards this year but if I come out that way I will give you a shout.If you make it over here I will take you on a sword trip.If we fish over there you better bring an angler I have fought enough of those and have the bad back to prove it :lol:

[Brokdik]

Hey Mike....missed Lump season due to starting a new business....Great year to start up a crawfish boiling restaurant....any way, love your posts and can't wait to stretch some mono on some hungry tuna....By the way...that looks like ol' uncle Jim in the back ground.....am I right????

[Captain Mike Ellis]

You are right. I caught those fish on it before it moved. I ran a overnighter last night and put 10 in the box from 40-90lbs. Plus all the blacks one could posibly ever want. But that report will come later.
Capt. Mike